16 photos show King Charles III and Princess Anne's close-knit relationship over the years

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16 photos show King Charles III and Princess Anne's close-knit relationship over the years
  • King Charles III and Princess Anne are the eldest children of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
  • The siblings were born less than two years apart.
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King Charles III was born to Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip on November 14, 1948. His only sister, Princess Anne, was born less than two years later on August 15, 1950.

King Charles III was born to Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip on November 14, 1948. His only sister, Princess Anne, was born less than two years later on August 15, 1950.
Then-Princess Elizabeth poses for a portrait with her children Princess Anne and Charles in 1951.ullstein bild Dtl. - Contributor/Getty Images

Their mother, then-Princess Elizabeth, was just two years away from her assertion to the throne when Anne was born.

Charles and Anne entertained themselves with toy cars and strollers at Balmoral Castle in 1952.

Charles and Anne entertained themselves with toy cars and strollers at Balmoral Castle in 1952.
Charles and Princess Anne play together on the grounds of Balmoral Castle on September 1, 1952.Hulton Royals Collection/Getty Images

Charles, Anne, and the rest of the royal family spent a lot of time outside at their Scottish summer home.

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Anne and Charles attended their mother's coronation in 1953.

Anne and Charles attended their mother's coronation in 1953.
Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, and their children Charles and Anne at Buckingham Palace after the Queen's coronation on June 2, 1953.Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The young siblings followed their parents and waved at the crowd from the balcony at Buckingham Palace after the Queen's coronation ceremony.

Anne and Charles took on new roles as older siblings to Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.

Anne and Charles took on new roles as older siblings to Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.
Anne, Edward, Queen Elizabeth II, Charles, Andrew, and Philip on the lawn at Frogmore House in Windsor on April 20, 1965.PA Images via Getty Images

By the time their youngest brother Prince Edward was born in 1960, Anne was 13, and Charles was 15 years old.

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As they got older, they still found time to have fun with their family.

As they got older, they still found time to have fun with their family.
Charles, Edward, and Anne rode go-karts at Windsor Castle in 1969.Central Press Photo LTD/AFP via Getty Images

Edward sat in Charles' lap as Anne rode her own go-kart around Windsor Castle.

Charles also took time to ride horses with Anne, who later became known for her equestrian career.

Charles also took time to ride horses with Anne, who later became known for her equestrian career.
Charles and Anne ride horses in Windsor Great Park in 1969.PA Images via Getty Images

The siblings also shared other hobbies when they were young. Anne and Charles enjoyed gardening as children, Woman and Home reports according to a 2004 interview Charles gave to BBC Radio 4.

"My sister and I had a little vegetable patch in the back of some border somewhere," he said. "We had great fun trying to grow tomatoes rather unsuccessfully and things like that."

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Anne sat next to Charles on their way to his investiture ceremony in Wales.

Anne sat next to Charles on their way to his investiture ceremony in Wales.
Charles and Anne on a car ride in Caernarfon, Wales, on July 1, 1969.Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Getty Images

Charles was made Prince of Wales, the title traditionally held by the heir to the British throne, in July 1958, Reuters previously reported. He was formally invested with the title at Caernarfon Castle in July 1969, with Anne accompanying him to the ceremony.

Charles and Anne traveled to Kenya together in 1971.

Charles and Anne traveled to Kenya together in 1971.
The duo rode in a vehicle during a safari on February 15, 1971.Anwar Hussein/Getty Images

Video from The Royal Family Channel on YouTube shows archival footage of the siblings on safari at the Masai Game Reserve in Nairobi, Kenya's capital city.

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Charles stood by Anne on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on her wedding day in 1973.

Charles stood by Anne on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on her wedding day in 1973.
Anne and Charles stand near each other after Anne's wedding to Mark Phillips on November 14, 1973, in London, England.Anwar Hussein/Getty Images

In a photo from Anne's wedding to her first husband, Mark Phillips, Charles can be seen standing near his sister as she waved to the crowd from the Buckingham Palace balcony.

Charles looked very invested as he watched his sister compete at the Olympics in 1976.

Charles looked very invested as he watched his sister compete at the Olympics in 1976.
Queen Elizabeth ll, Andrew, and Charles watch Anne ride in the Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada, on July 17, 1976.Anwar Hussein/Getty Images

Anne was the first member of the royal family to compete at the Olympics when she rode her mother's horse, Goodwill, at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games, according to the royal family's website.

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The brother-sister duo appeared at many royal events together.

The brother-sister duo appeared at many royal events together.
Charles and Anne at the Trooping of the Colour on June 17, 2000.Julian Parker/UK Press

Charles and Anne found a moment together at the Trooping the Colour Parade in 2000, which marked their mother's 74th birthday.

Photographers captured a sweet moment between the two as Charles helped Anne fix the plume on her hat in 2005.

Photographers captured a sweet moment between the two as Charles helped Anne fix the plume on her hat in 2005.
Prince Charles adjusts Princess Anne's plume at Windsor Castle on June 13, 2005.Andrew Parsons/AFP via Getty Images

The siblings wore uniforms for the 2005 Order of the Garter ceremony. According to the website for the College of St George at Windsor Castle, both Anne and Charles are knights of the order.

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In their later years, Anne and Charles still shared plenty of laughs.

In their later years, Anne and Charles still shared plenty of laughs.
Charles and Anne at the Braemar Royal Highland Gathering on September 5, 2009 (left); The siblings stood together at the Braemar Highland Games on September 4, 2010 (right).Indigo/Getty Images

The siblings found plenty to giggle at during the Braemar Highland Games, where athletes compete in traditional highland events, in 2009 and 2010.

The siblings shared the same somber look as they lead the procession at their father Prince Philip's funeral in 2021.

The siblings shared the same somber look as they lead the procession at their father Prince Philip's funeral in 2021.
Charles and Anne lead a procession at Prince Philip's funeral at Windsor Castle on April 17, 2021.Alastair Grant/WPA Pool/Getty Images

Insider's Talia Lakritz's previously reported that despite some difficulties, Charles had a close relationship with his father.

Hello! Magazine writes that Anne also shared a tight bond with Philip. In a quote to the Daily Mail in 2017, Eileen Parker, the wife of Philip's friend Mike Parker, shared the differences between Charles and Anne by comparing them with their parents.

"[Philip] always had more fun with Anne," she said. "Charles is more like the Queen, while Anne is very like Prince Philip."

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Anne and Charles seemed to show Prince William and Kate Middleton's son Prince Louis a good time at the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in June.

Anne and Charles seemed to show Prince William and Kate Middleton's son Prince Louis a good time at the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in June.
Prince Louis, Charles, and Anne attend the Platinum Pageant on June 5, 2022.Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Photos of Prince Louis sitting with Charles and Anne bare a resemblance to images of the eldest siblings playing with their brothers.

The new king and the princess appeared to look at one another for support at the Queen's funeral.

The new king and the princess appeared to look at one another for support at the Queen's funeral.
King Charles III and Princess Anne prior to the committal service for Queen Elizabeth II on September 19, 2022.Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Charles and Anne spent a lot of time in the spotlight after the Queen's death on September 8 at Balmoral. Hello! Magazine reports they were the first people at their mother's bedside when she fell ill because they were both already in Scotland.

At her funeral on Monday, the brother and sister, both in uniform, found time to talk alone. A source close to the king told Vanity Fair's Katie Nicholl that Charles "knows he has a loyal and faithful ally in the Princess Royal" and that he "absolutely plans to include her in his new streamlined monarchy."

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